ISKCON Durban’s Festival of Chariots (Rathayatra) held at North Beach on the vacation of Easter weekend. It was silver jubilee year of ISKCON Durban RathYatra. The festival’s motto was “Culturally many - spiritually one”.
An amazing experience, seeing this festival is the biggest of its kind outside India, attracting over 2,00,000 during a four-days period from 29th March to 1st April.
The event was colorful procession of Rathayatra, where more than two hundred thousand plates of food for life delicious Prasadam distributed, free entertainment including Freshly ground, Hinds Brothers Band, Kirtanuity Tour with Madhava, KZN Philharmonic Orchestra with BB Govinda Swami, Drum Cafe and The Kwa-Mashu Gospel Choir, special Rajasthani dance, Holi
(festival of colour), yoga, Seminars, Ask Discover, Initiation ceremony and more.
While in 1988, HH Indradyumna Swami was the temple president of ISKCON Durban started Sri Sri Jahannatha RathYatra celebration and this time also His Holiness was the incharge of Rathyatra and over all Ratha Yatra Silver Jubilee festivities.
The “Culturally many - spiritually one” named of the Silver jubilee festivals of ISKCON Durban started organizing the programs in a year back under the guidance of HH Indradyumna Maharaja, skillfully to invite all the religious group leader of South Africa and to get officials approval from Government leader by meeting and convincing them that ISKCON is not organizing any sectarian festivals as all as the religious leader are participating, just to get the place of famous North Beach to held the festivities.
The Rath Yatra held on 29th March. The procession started at 10.30 AM and went on till 2.00 PM. There was local Julu dance, traditional Odissi dance and Jagannath astakam by local devotees before the procession. The mood was very joyful among the audiences.
Rathayatra kirtan leaders was HH Bhakti Caru Swami, HH Kadamba Kanan Swami, HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami, HG Bada hari Prabhu, HG Jayadeva Prabhu, HG Mahatma Prabhu led very melodious and enthusiastic kirtans & drowned all the participants in the ocean of transcendental bliss, enthusiastically dancing to the heart rendering tune of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, devotees enthusiastically pulling the ropes, chanting and dancing in the Kirtan till the end of Ratha Yatra, It was amazing site.
Main entertainment started just after the Ratha Yatra procession. There were close to dozen Pandals for different events. Huge Pandals for Cultural entertainment , Kirtanuity, Ask-Discover-explore, “Culturally many” seminars, Yoga, two Pandals for Govinda, another was for devotional mini market, face painting and tattoo, one for kids, book stalls, first-aid and food for life. Continues program were going on these Pandals, it was difficult to choose which one to leave. Indian High commission arranged a Rajsthani dance group to present a fire dance. The dancer danced with 21 clay pitchers on her head and danced on sword, pin and broken glasses makes everyone amazed Four Main Pandals:
1. Cultural Entertainment:
Main Pandal where all kind of cultural programs like Freshly ground, Hinds Brothers Band, KZN Philharmonic Orchestra with BB Govinda Swami, Drum Cafe and The Kwa Mashu Gospel Choir, special Rajasthani dance, final Kirtan. Also VIP dignitaries’ and religious leaders deliver their appreciations.
2. Culturally many seminars:
Festivals were not restricted to any particular culture therefore many religious leaders were invited to give talks; ISKCON Sannyasis also gave their valuable talks. Question and answer sessions was there. Everyone accepted the existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead but our cultures are many.
3. Ask, Discover explore:
Wonderful seminars were given by ISKCON Sannysis and leaders.
4. Kirtanuti:
International fame Kirtaniya performed Harinam Sankirtan.
Durban food for life is very popular in South Africa. They distribute average of 3000 plates daily Prasadam in different places. For this 4 days festivals congregation members worked very hard. They use to start cooking at midnight 12.30 and continue till 5:00am with firewood. Hundreds of big vessels were used to cook. At food for Life Pandal distributed Biriyani, Dal, Raita, Chatni, Halwa and Juice freely for 4 days.
On second day the main attraction was Drum Cafe .The Kwa-Mashu Gospel Choir played 600 African traditional drums in synchronizations with auditions.
Another main attraction was on Sunday 31st march. Colour festival of Holi was celebrated that day. Many people joyfully attended this festival. Organic colour was splashed on countdown in synchronization. Another attraction that day was HH BB Govinda Swami ’s Hare Krishna Kirtan performance with total 65 musician of KZN Philharmonic Orchestra, HG Bada Hari Prabhu, Jayadeva Prabhu and the local 12 member of Kwamashu choir. Morning 8am to 10am was an initiation ceremony by HH Bhakticaitanya Swami, HH Bhaktimarg Swami and HH Kadamba Kanan Swami.
On final day Freshly ground, the world famous rock group performed. Audience enjoyed it very much. Final kirtan was led by HH B.B Govinda Swami, Madhava Prabhu and HH Indradyumna Swami.
H.H Bhakti Marga Swami presented attractive dramas on all four days.
Sannyasis and Srila Prabhupada’s Disciples attendance : HH Bhakticaru Swami, HH Indradyunma Swami, HH Jayadvita Swami, HH BhaktiCaitanya Swami, HH Bhaktimarg Swami, HH Kadambakanan swami, HH BB Govinda Swami, HH ParthaSarathi Swami, HH BhaktiNrisimha Swami, HH Ram Govinda Swami, HG Shyamlal Prabhu, HGBadahariPrabhu, HG JayadevaPrabhu, HG Mahatma Prabhu.
When Srila Prabhupada visited Durban, South Africa in 1975 he expressed two desires for this city viz. that the ancient Festival of Chariots take place on Durban’s Beachfront and that a beautiful temple be built in the heart of Chatsworth.
“For instance, in an article about the temple of the Hare Krishna movement in Durban, South Africa, the Durban Post reported, “All the devotees here are very active in the service of Lord Krishna, and the results are obvious to see: happiness, good health, peace of mind, and the development of all good qualities.” This is the nature of Vrindavana. Harav abhaktasya kuto mahad-gunah : without Krishna consciousness, happiness is impossible; one may struggle, but one cannot have happiness. We are therefore trying to give human society the opportunity for a life of happiness, good health, peace of mind and all good qualities through God consciousness.” (Srila Prabhupada Purport SB 10.13.60)
Source : http://www.dandavats.com/?p=11447
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